The Optimists are appreciative of everybody who helps with setting up and operating our tree lot every year. Pictured above are members of the Hopkins High wrestling team who helped with the unloading of the trees. Thanks Wrestlers.

The Glen Lake Optimist Club is also sponsoring an Oratorical Contest for the 2018-19 school year. The topic for this years contest is"Is There a Fine Line Between Optimism and Reality?" To get more information and an application form, please go to the Oratorical Contest page.

Again this year the Glen Lake Optimist Club will be sponsoring an essay contest. The topic for this years contest is "When All The World"s Problems Are Solved, Is Optimism Still Necessary?". The deadline for this years application is 12/20/2018 with the essay having to be postmarked before 12/30/2018. The first place award from the local club is $100 and a medallion with the award from our DMM District being a $2500 college scholarship. For further info and the application form, please go to ESSAY Contest page. The contest is open to students under the age of 19 on Oct 1, 2018 and not enrolled as a degree seeking student in a post-secondary institution.

The Glen Lake Optimist tree lot will be opening on Nov 19, 2018. Our lot is located at the GAL softball field, field 3, just off ExcelsiorBlvd on Glenview Drive in Glen Lake. The selling of Christmas trees is our main fund raiser every year. We thank those you have supported us in the past and look forward to seeing past and new supporters this year.The tree lot hours are: M-F 1-8pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-7pm.Also, if any of you would like to learn more about our club and meet some of our members, we are always looking for volunteers at the lot. You can contact us via e-mail and contact a member on our contact page. Again thanks for your continuing support.

The Glen Lake Optimist Club for many years has given away scholarships to two graduating seniors from Hopkins High School. Our recipients for 2018 are:Aaisha Said who will be attending Normandale to study dental hygiene andKevin Sookhar who is undecided where he will be attending at the present.

Congratulations to both and may your studies go well and be enjoyable.

CARING YOUTH AWARDEach year the Glen Lake Optimist Club along with the cities of Minnetonka, Hopkins and Golden Valley and the Hopkins and Minnetonka school districts host a Caring Youth Recognition event to honor contributions of caring young people. The 2018 recipients are:

JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAMAmong the programs we support is the Juvenile Diversion Program run by the Northern Star Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The program was established in 1996 to encourage and guide young people between 10 and 18 who are first or second-time offenders of a low-level offense to become aware of their behavior and its impact on society and their future. The program diverts youth from the court system and results show that 87% of participants graduate and maintain a clean record. Also 85% of participants improve relationships with their parents. For more information you can go to our links page on click on Northern Star Council web site.

TREE LOT

The Glen Lake Optimist Tree lot is closed for the 2017 season. We would like to thank those who purchased their Christmas tree at our lot. The selling of trees is our major fundraiser for the year. We are able to support the many programs which we help in our community only with the support of those who buy their tree from our lot. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you again in 2018. Thank you.We would also like to thanks those many individuals whom helped us by volunteering at our tree lot. Your help is and was greatly appreciated. A big thank you to those people also.

2017 Caring Youth Award Event

Derrick Agate with Glen Lake Optimist Hopkins Scholarship Winners

Members of Glen Lake Optimist Club manning a refueling station in St. Louis Park for the TourdeCure on June 3, 2017